Oga joins Mercury for camp

Point guard Yuko Oga has signed a training camp contract with the WNBA reigning champion Phoenix Mercury, the team announced. “Yuko is a point guard who will thrive in our up-tempo offense,” Mercury coach Corey Gaines said in a press release earlier this week. “Her experience playing international ball and her quickness will help her fit in with our system. She has a great opportunity to make our roster.”A member of the Japan National Team, Oga participated in the 2004 Athens Olympics. The 170-cm native of Yamagata Prefecture is trying to become the second Japanese to play in the WNBA. Mikiko Hagiwara played for the Sacramento Monarchs in 1997 and the Mercury in 1998. Phoenix’s training camp begins on April 20.